The interior of a capsule hotel appears blackened by fire on the third floor following a blaze in Sogong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, April 14. Korea Times file
Seoul is moving to tighten oversight of capsule hotels and other small lodging facilities, unveiling a sweeping fire safety plan Thursday aimed at closing regulatory gaps that officials say could cost lives in a fast-moving blaze.
The city government said it will conduct a full inspection of 7,958 lodging facilities across Seoul, while expanding sprinkler coverage, strengthening emergency equipment requirements and building an integrated safety management system that links construction, tourism and firefighting authorities.
City officials said more than 90 percent of lodging facilities in Korea’s capital currently lack sprinklers, including many properties under 300 square meters that are not legally required to install them.
Capsule hotels and dormitory-style accommodations, which often feature tightly packed sleeping units and narrow corridors, will be designated as “priority management targets” under the new plan.
